Sam Harper ton leads Australia A's strong fightback

Australia A recovered from a perilous 16/3 to close the opening day of the second unofficial Test against India A at 282/7 in Puducherry, with Sam Harper leading a superb fightback with an unbeaten 101.

Harper, who was playing his first tour game, hit his century with seven fours and three sixes in his 101st out of 153 balls. He did this while playing his first tour game. He and Todd Murphy added a crucial 89 for the seventh wicket before Murphy fell for 33 just before day's end.

Considering how quickly the visitors had been reduced to three down, the turnaround was especially striking. Josh Philippe, who had moved up the order and decided to bat, was run out for 5 in the eighth over. In the subsequent over, Sam Konstas was run out, and captain Peter Handscomb was run out for a 15-ball duck. After a strong opening spell from Anshul Kamboj, Nachiket Bhute killed Philippe and Handscomb.

After that, Nathan McSweeney and Jason Sangha brought some stability. The pair added 81 for the fourth wicket before Sangha was caught excellently behind the stumps by Kumar Kushagra for 46. After that, McSweeney gave up and was fired by Mulani for 34 dollars, leaving Australia A at 104/5.

Harper and Liam Scott led another fight. They made 84 for the sixth wicket, and Scott took Nachiket Bhute's third wicket of the day, scoring 34 off 82 balls. If the hosts had any hopes of polishing off the tail thereafter, another strong partnership undid them. As the innings progressed, Harper picked up speed, scoring his century in the final session and providing the turning point in Australia's recovery. Murphy, who played a patient 91-ball 33, was eventually bowled by Kamboj. Harper, on the other hand, demonstrated his growing abilities by carrying his bat all the way to the stumps.

With three wickets each, Bhute was the best bowler for India A. Mulani was particularly influential in the early exchanges, but his figures of 3/77 from 28 overs also reflected a costly problem for the hosts: he bowled 14 no-balls in India A's worrying tally of 21 foot faults on the opening day.